Listened to the audiobook read by the author and enjoyed it a lot. Like the most beloved stories in children's literature, this one centers on an ordinary child who has an extraordinary adventure and discovers something important about himself. Listening to this story made me feel as if this were a book that was written long ago--it had the language and pacing of an old classic. I don't know how that translates on the page for the reader, but as a listener, I found it quite appealing. Filled with theatrical goblins, a mechanical legged witch, and a motley assortment of street children and suspicious pigeons, here is a book where horrible secrets are slowly revealed and a town's safety depends on finding a lost brother.

Highly atmospheric, this would be a great story to listen to at night, under the stars. ( )

Hmmm. I'm not really sure why this was picked as the National Book Award winner this year. I liked it better than "Endangered" but "Never Fall Down" was more powerful. I'll have to see how I feel after I read the other two. ( )

Awesome book! I love everything about it. I love the simplicity of the language, and the weirdness of it, the author is always giving us something that we've never heard of before -- fish that live in sand, a mask that is the river, saying hello with a pebble -- a truly fantastic fantasy. The villain is incredibly creepy and the heroes are all very individual. I reacted differently from other readers in that I kind of liked the pace at which information is revealed -- very slowly, so there is always another mystery pulling you through the book. I guess I found it refreshing. There are so many books that get bogged down in too many explanations. I really didn't want it to end. ( )

Wikipedia in English (1)

A boy joins a theatrical troupe of goblins to find his missing brother.In the town of Zombay, there is a witch named Graba who has clockwork chicken legs and moves her house around—much like the fairy tale figure of Baba Yaga. Graba takes in stray children, and Rownie is the youngest boy in her household. Rownie’s only real relative is his older brother Rowan, who is an actor. But acting is outlawed in Zombay, and Rowan has disappeared.

Desperate to find him, Rownie joins up with a troupe of goblins who skirt the law to put on plays. But their plays are not only for entertainment, and the masks they use are for more than make-believe. The goblins also want to find Rowan—because Rowan might be the only person who can save the town from being flooded by a mighty river.

This accessible, atmospheric fantasy takes a gentle look at love, loss, and family while delivering a fast-paced adventure that is sure to satisfy.

Haiku summary

▾Book descriptions

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▾Library descriptions

Hoping to find his lost brother, Rownie escapes the home of the witch Graba and joins a troupe of goblins who perform in Zombay, a city where humans are forbidden to wear masks and act in plays.